IS LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



things which look like horns, that I have often 

 noticed on the heads of insects ? 



Jlunt M. Those are their feelers, or anten- 

 nae, as they are called. They are hollow and 

 jointed, and extremely sensitive, and are used by 

 insects for many purposes ; but are particularly 

 useful in enabling them to feel their way as they 

 travel from place to place. 



Many insects are also furnished with a pro- 

 boscis, or trunk, with which they obtain food ; 

 differently formed to suit their various wants. 

 In those which suck the juices of plants and 

 animals, this proboscis is hard and sharp ; while 

 in the butterfly it is long enough to reach to the 

 bottom of a flower, to drink the nectar it con- 

 tains, and capable of being rolled up to keep 

 it out of the way when the insect is not feed- 

 ing. 



The proboscis of the common house-fly has at 

 the end a sort of lip, with which it can readily 

 take up sugar, molasses, milk, or any thing else 

 suited to its taste. 



The changes through which insects have to 

 pass before they arrive at their perfect state, are 

 so curious and wonderful that I should like to 



